Memes mock Premier Christy Clark over government email scandal

Social media users generated a slew of memes mocking B.C. Premier Christy Clark in the midst of a scandal that involves ‘triple deleting’ provincial government email records. 

Last week, B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Dunham released a damning report that accused staff in two government ministries and Clark’s office of failing to “fulfill their duties” outlined in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). 

“I am deeply disappointed by the practices our investigation uncovered,” wrote Dunham. 

"It is important that the government take immediate action to restore public confidence in the access to information process."

The story has been widely reported, as has the resignation of Transportation Ministry staffer George Gretes, who allegedly lied under oath when he denied intentionally deleting emails and records connected to B.C.'s notorious Highway of Tears in an interview with Dunham.

The record-keeping tactics of the premier's issues management director Evan Solomon — who used Post-it notes to keep track of Freedom of Information requests (and subsequently threw them away) — was similarly covered.  

Clark has since ordered ministers and staff to save their emails, told reporters she believes "everyone was trying to operate within the act," and chalked up the scandal to "inconsistencies" in how FIPPA was interpreted by government staff. 

The province’s social media users aren’t satisfied with this explanation however, and have taken to Facebook and Twitter to shame the premier for flying in the face of her own election promise to become “the most open government in Canada.”

Here are some of the online favourites: 

Posted by Facebook user Bruce McCloy.